From 27 February 2026, a significant new child safety regulation has come into effect across Australia’s education and care sector. All early childhood education and care (ECEC) services—including Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) providers—are now required to ensure that staff, volunteers, and management complete mandatory national child safety training. For families who entrust their children to OSHC programmes, this is a welcome and important step forward in safeguarding our kids.
At Amana OSHC, child safety has always been at the heart of everything we do. Here’s what these changes mean for you and your family.
What Has Changed?
The Australian Government has introduced mandatory national child safety training for all persons involved in the management, supervision, and day-to-day operations of ECEC services. This includes nominated supervisors, educators, volunteers, and students on placement. The training ensures that everyone working with children understands their responsibilities under the National Quality Standard (NQS) and the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.
In addition, the timeframe for notifying authorities about allegations or incidents of physical and sexual abuse has been dramatically reduced—from seven days down to just 24 hours. This means any concerns are acted upon more swiftly, providing an extra layer of protection for children in care.
How Does This Affect Your Child at Amana OSHC?
As a parent or carer, you can feel even more confident that the team looking after your child during our Rise and Shine Club (before school care) and Amana Afternoons (after school care) sessions has been trained to the highest child safety standards. Every educator at Amana OSHC—from those leading Homework Heroes and Little Champions Club to those running Imagination Station and Iqra Circle—has completed this training.
These reforms reinforce our existing commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for every child. Our philosophy centres on children as capable, confident learners, and that starts with knowing they are safe and protected at all times.
What Is Amana OSHC Doing to Stay Compliant?
At Amana OSHC, we have proactively ensured all our staff across our centres in New South Wales and Victoria have completed the mandatory training ahead of schedule. We have also updated our internal policies and procedures to reflect the new 24-hour notification requirements.
Our commitment to the National Quality Standard and continuous improvement means we regularly review our child protection policies, conduct ongoing professional development, and maintain open communication with families about how we keep children safe. We believe families are key partners in this process, and we welcome your questions at any time.
Tips for Families: Talking to Your Children About Safety
While these regulatory changes happen behind the scenes, families can also play an active role in child safety. Consider having age-appropriate conversations with your children about body safety, trusted adults, and the importance of speaking up if something doesn’t feel right. Encourage your child to identify their “safe people”—trusted adults at home, school, and at their OSHC programme whom they can talk to.
At Amana OSHC, we support these conversations through our programmes, helping children build confidence, resilience, and social skills in a caring environment.
The introduction of mandatory child safety training is a positive step for every Australian family. At Amana OSHC, we’re proud to be at the forefront of compliance and best practice, ensuring your children are cared for in the safest possible environment. If you’d like to learn more about our child safety policies or enrol your child in one of our programmes, visit amanaoshc.com.au or contact your nearest Amana OSHC centre today.